Here's a new, nifty little service that could save you money on your cell phone bill, especially if you're a heavy user. Validas is a web service that works like this: You download your bill from your cell company's website in PDF format (Validas tells you how to do this), then upload it to Validas. The numbers crunch, then you get a report graphically outlining your cell phone usage, plus a page suggesting ways you can save money on that bill.

I gave it a spin and it worked flawlessly, though I'm a fairly light cell user on a cheap plan, so Validas didn't have any real savings on tap for me. Some suggestions for other users might include information on saving money on 411 calls, switching to a more cost-effective plan, getting rid of phone insurance, or tips on how to dial internationally for less money.

If you like Validas's suggestions, you can then follow the simple instructions on emailing changes to your plan to your carrier and start saving money immediately. That's it!

I expect heavy users could save tens or hundreds of dollars a year, depending on how many extra services are sitting unused on their cell plans. As a bonus, Validas actually makes it easy to understand your bill and see at a glance what your cell phone use is really like, who you're calling, how often, etc.

Validas is free for the first use, then you have to pay for additional bill uploads: $5 for one upload to $20 for 15 uploads. I know, it's strange to have to pay for anything on the web these days, but if you can save just a few cents a month, the service is worth it. Better still, if your bill is a complicated mess, the amount of time you save trying to understand it is probably worth the cost of admission alone.

Give the free trial a spin for yourself!

LINK: Validas